PAYNE (5) and HERSH (8) both exit a common race at Belmont Park on June 6, and, on paper, they both figure to be major players in Saratoga's upcoming tenth. As dangerous as they appear, I'm not convinced they're standouts and will opt to take a fresh face in New York. RULER OF THE NILE (7) was claimed for $8,000 two starts back by his new connections, and I thought his most recent effort at Churchill Downs on 6/14 was a gutsy try; after being headed at the top of the lane, this four-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile rallied gamely inside before drawing clear late. It goes without saying that the hike in class could be a stumbling block this afternoon, but if you're like me and aren't terrified of the top two, perhaps Ruler of the Nile is one to consider; he's currently 9-1 with 10 MTP.